Front Mud Flaps - only gone and bought some **Now Fitted**

[Ian_Mac]

I think they'd look good colour coded!

I'll let you pioneer that one then!

[Ian_Mac]

if you can Ian, take some pictures after a dirty trip with the muck, and see how well it does.

i am already inspired and make this my spring project.

Here we go, took a drive to see the other half on Friday night, roads pretty damp but the main bit was following close after a tractor that had been muck spreading.

The sides only have dirty water marks which is fair enough



All the cow poo has been held at bay!



In the past there would have been a liberal coating up the door as well!

Now I need to jet wash all the crap out of the arches!

[Roy]

Collecting the car in couple of weeks , living in the highlands with so much salt and grit on the roads I am seriously considering mud flaps. I realise many will say don't do it! I have searched forums and google for photos of them fitted with little success. Even the VW configurer only shows pics of the rear flaps including for the front mud flap option. Can anyone post any pics of their car with oem flaps please, particularly if you have a salsa red?

[RW1]

Robs has a red Scirocco ..... http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... 373#p81373" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And mine in white..... http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... ore#p30848" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

C.

[Roy]

Thanks RW1 good links . I think the flaps look fine. Going to see the car at the weekend, will see if can haggle on the price to have them fitted...

[maisbitt]

Roy,

They will have your eyes out to fit these as they'll take the wheels off, probably almost as much as the flaps themselves. If you're a bit imaginative with Torx screwdriver bits and a small socket set handle, you can fit these without removing the wheels with a bit of fiddling (did this with my last Golf).

I'd say no to mudflaps - they don't look good and they're a big dirt/moisture trap - my dad's wheel arches on his MK5 Golf are rusting up underneath his mudflaps, and the price of them on Sciroccos are just daft (£60 a set of 4 on the Golf).

They have so little overhang they seem almost redundant in their intended role.

[RW1]

Fairly straight forward DIY job. So blag the mudflaps and fit yourself.

Back bumpers are wholly plastic where the rear mudflaps fit.
Front hardly faces onto body metal work as they are tightly against the plastic inner front splash sheilds of the front wings. All mounted into exisitng plastic securing bolts.

Took them off recently and they were very clean behind after two years & 12,000 miles. The only metal bit is a stainless steel clip onto the plastic front wing splash shield in each front wing. The Torx head bolts do not mount into any metal bodywork.

The only precaution that needs taking really is rubbing protection against the paint surface. I fitted 3M clear anti-squeak film, cut to shape to stop the rubber edge of the mudflaps digging into the paint. About 3mm shows and if it gets dirty with time, just strip off and re-apply a new custom cut sheet.

Its available as A4 size sheet at VW as part no. AKL 448 300 04 with a price tag of £35. Not that I paid that.... just £1 a sheet at a VW show. Easy to cut with sharp scissors.

The easiest & cheapest source for the 3M film is Ebay traders - searching on "VW" or "audi" + "Audi Bumper Protection"
This is the sort of auctions VW Film or Audi Film

After cutting to shape of the mudflap lip + 3mm and some film area behind the flap to aid adhesion. Its applied by using water to slide the film shape into place. Then flattening and the film tacks down as the remaining moisture evaporates.

The templates I keep. Made of thick card. The can be flipped over to do either side - RH or LH.

Basically after fitting the mudflaps, slip some card in between the mudflap and bodywork/bumper and use a pen to trace the mudflap outline. Then cut to shape with a 3mm wide (visible) border. Add an area behind the shaped edge for added adhesion but not too much to go off the bodywork behind the area covered by the mudflap.

Mudflap 3M Film - 01 Templates.JPG

Front mudflap with 3M film protection

Mudflap 3M Film - 02 Front Wing.JPG

Rear mudflap with 3M film protection

Mudflap 3M Film - 03 Rear Bumper.JPG

Due to a little accident at Christmas while I was having a cup of tea in the house, the 3M film behind my rear mudflaps can be revealed.

Mudflap 3M Film - 04 Rear Bumper.JPG

At the end of the day, its a personal choice whether you have them or not. If you do, make sure the paintwork is protected.

C.

[Dieselslurper]

Made some Winter Mud-flaps from carbon reinforced PP as it is a little more flexible than normal carbon-fiber material.
Did only the front ones and the make a Huge difference on the sides of the car.